66 Transactions. 



Phormium Cookianum. 

 Group G (eight varieties). 



I. Habit, very drooping ; fans closely set. 

 II. Leaves, pale green, narrow, short, thin, flaccid ; margins translucent 

 pale yellow, unthickened ; leaves curl backwards ; butt white, 

 short, little gum. 

 IV. Inflorescences, numerous, short, tapering, drooping in all directions, 

 stalk sometimes green. 

 V. Flowers, short, yellow, inner perianth-leaves much recurved at tip. 

 VI. Capsules, long (4-7 in.), pendulous, and very twisted. 



Development. 



After the classification follows a fairly long account of the development 

 of Phormium,. This includes descriptions of the anatomy of various parts 

 of the young plant at successive stages in its development. It ends with 

 a full anatomical account of the mature leaf. This chapter is illustrated 

 with drawings of sections of different parts of the leaf. 



Pollination. 



My experiments in pollination were carried out with as much care as 

 possible, but it is well known that mistakes easily occur in these experi- 

 ments, and I hope to verify my statements at a later date. In my paper 

 I have stated that as the result of my investigations I have found — 

 (1) That Phormium is not self- fertile ; (2) extreme forms of P. tenax and 

 P. Cookianum cannot be crossed ; (3) cross-pollination is easily effected 

 between varieties which are closely related. 



The Diseases of Phormium. 



The main diseases are merely shortly described, as they would form a 

 large subject for research. I have appended a list of varieties which exhibit 

 ability to resist fungus diseases. 



The Fibre. 



This section includes a description of the fibre-content of the varieties, 

 with a table of the measurements of the diameter of the fibre and the cavity 

 for each variety. It also gives an account of experiments on the expansion 

 and contraction of the fibre of New Zealand flax and manila hemp. 



When explaining the principles followed in the classification I have 

 stated that the Maori system was entirely artificial, since it was based on 

 one character only, and that a character of slight botanical importance — ■ 

 namely, the quality of fibre. After I had arranged my varieties in their 

 groups I sent leaves of all the varieties to be milled and graded, and was 

 surprised to find that almost all the varieties of each group fell into the 

 same grade. 



The remainder of the paper is concerned with general conclusions and 

 with a full bibliography of works dealing with Phormium. In addition to 

 the MS. there is a fairly large set of plates and photographs illustrating the 

 chief statements made in the text. 



